Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band
with Shaw High School Marching Band

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band will be rockin’ the house with their unique brand of high energy “put yer dancin’ shoes on” reggae.

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Nikki D & The Sisters of Thunder
with Blakk Jakk Dance Collective

Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025

Nikki D & The Sisters of Thunder is a family-based group from Toledo, Ohio. The group is known for their powerfully moving, revival-like performances with beautifully atmospheric vocals riding about a wave of infectious rhythms and grooves. Their unique style is gospel with blues riffs and grooves, all punctuated by Nikki D’s wildly soulful and electrifying steel guitar and raspy, sultry voice.

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Theron Brown Sextet 
with Open Tone Music

Sunday, Sept. 14

This show is from 3:00pm – 6:00pm, with gates opening at 2:00pm 

The Theron Brown Sextet is a dynamic jazz ensemble led by pianist Theron Brown, known for his soulful and inspiring music. Theron’s sound is influenced by gospel, jazz, and soul legends. The sextet features a mix of talented musicians creating a rich and vibrant jazz experience.

Featuring
Tommy Lehman – Trumpet
Chris Anderson – Trombone
Chris Coles – Sax
Zaire Darden – Drums
Jordan McBride – Bass
Theron Brown – Piano

Concert a Celebration of Jazz

The show begins with Shine Like the Sun, a trio of powerful theatrical vignettes from Karamu House—the nation’s oldest producing African American theater. Written by Michael Oatman, these stories illuminate the Black experience through music, art, and resilience:

• No Room at the Inn – Akron’s Matthews Hotel in 1937. A couple’s search for a hotel room becomes a soulful stand for dignity, featuring a moving performance of “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

Cast

Mary Francis Miller – Mabel

Dyrell Barnett – Calvin

CorLesia Smith – Vera

• Café Society – In a Cleveland nightclub, the Café Tia Juana, past lovers and rising artists cross paths on the eve of a Count Basie concert, where art and memory collide.

Cast

Dyrell Barnett – James

CorLesia Smith – Zora

Corin B. Self – Charles

Jacob Johnson – Count Baise

Mary Francis Miller – Catherine

• A Place of Our Own – At Lake Glen Country Club right here in Cuyahoga Valley in 1959, painter Charles Sallee is invited to dream bigger in a world built by and for Black excellence.

Cast 

Dyrell Barnett – Henston

Corin B. Self – Charles

Joshua McElroy – Crown Prince

Director
Tony F. Sias 

Music Director
Jacob Johnson

Pianist
Jacob Johnson

Stage Manager
Tyree Franklin

Wardrobe Coordinator
Brielle McGrew 

Scenery & Props
Karamu’s Production Team

Special Thanks

Jillian England
Inda Blatch-Geib
IBG Design Group

Dianna Angell & Jessica Rosenlieb
Cleveland Play House

And don’t miss the Complex Chords exhibition tent—an immersive arts experience exploring Northeast Ohio’s rich jazz legacy.

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